The Choice part 1

[Aadraen]

Aadraen stepped out of the mine with Tiathir, squinting her eyes at the sun falling through the trees. It had seemed she'd been in the mine for an eternity, though knowing she is in the lands of her mother brought her comfort. Glancing at Tiathir, doing the same thing, made her laugh on the inside, yet all she could do was smile at him.

"Come, let's mount up, I'll show you the way to the city." , she motioned to him as she whistled for her beloved, painted, horse, Ithil

"You don't have to ask me twice, fresh air is definitely a comfort I have taken WAY too much for granted." he cracked a smile and mounted up onto his grey steed.

They rode down the massive stairs, towards the river Nimrodel, she paused, and turned to him then. "This is the river Nimrodel, have I told you its history?"

"No, I do not believe you have.." he said as he rode up, pausing beside her, as they peered across the silvery water.

"This is where the lady Nimrodel dwelled, her tale is one of woe.." pursing her lips thoughtfully, as if to remember, she started to speak once more..

"She was the beloved of Amroth, the last Silvan Elf-lord of Lorinad..", she paused again to savour a cool breeze blowing across the water, pushing her hair away from her face..

"Here, she lived in a talas not far from here, yet when the Balrog came into Moria, she left this place to join Amroth in Edhellond, where they were to depart for Valinor.

Tiathir interjected, "Valinor are the Undying Lands you speak of often?"

Aadraen nodded slowly, meeting his eyes for the longest of times, before looking back out to the river once more. "As they prepared to set sail together, they began to cross Ered Nimrais, where the ship was lost forever."

Tiathir looked down with a touch of sadness.. "I thought your kind did not die?"

"We can, if felled in battle, or if something happens in an accident.."

"This river, this place where she once dwelled, is named in her honour."

Aadraen paused in reflection of both the story, and her own thoughts as of late.

It was then she heard voices:

"Those not known to The Galadhrim shall not pass into the Golden Wood. "
She looked down, and slid off of her horse, Tiathir looked at her as if he were going to start a fight. Holding up a hand to them she shook her head.

Turning to the two grey clad, cloaked, archers, she bowed respectfully at the waist..

"Mae Govannen.."

One of the archers kept watching Aadraen, "Mae Govannen" he said.. "Please, stand up, you look familiar to me.."

Aadraen stood straight up, and pushed the cloak from her very pale face.

"Hiril Tathariel, is it truly you?" , the now familiar voice said..

With a smile, she grasped one of his shoulders with her hand, as he did in kind to the opposite shoulder. "Rumil, it has been long".

"Too long indeed, it is good to have you here, these lands are as much yours as they are your mother's." He said smiling.

As he looked up at Tiathir, his smile faded, "He cannot come with you though, we know him not."

"Hey, I go where Maethoril goes, and I'll have you..." Aadraen turned her head quick almost if to snap at him, shaking her head as if to say "Be quiet!"

With a sigh, Tiathir turned to look at the river, his own pasty white face growing red at the apples of his cheeks in anger.

"Is he one of your kinship, that helped you to Imladris as you were dying?" Rumil enquired..

Aadraen simply nodded, "He and young Galaxian of Rivendell, were essential players in helping me live again.. although I will always bear pain in the scar I have."

Rumil seemed to be deeply in thought for a few moments, occasionally looking at Tiathir, then back to Aadraen. "I can see that he is important to you, obviously he is brave for helping your kin to save your life, yet you know the rules of the Lord and Lady, none shall pass until they prove their worth."

Aadraen nodded, "I understand, perhaps some of the elves camped along the banks need some assistance?, do you think that could gain him enough favour to be allowed into the wood with me? For I will not go without him."

Rumil nodded, "Tell him if he is able to aid us in our preperations for the coming battle, he will have earned some trust, just do not pass the broken bridge across the river to the south, Haldir keeps keen watch from his talas, and the Galadhrim are hidden throughout the area."

Aadraen nodded, "Thank you Rumil, this deed will not be forgotten by me." She smiled and clapped his shoulder once, and dropped her arm to the side.

"There should be a place to set up camp a little to the south, it seems there are some Dwarves in the closest of the two."

Aadraen wrinkled her nose slightly, not because she detested all dwarves, but simply put, she felt their greed has unlocked yet more unspeakable evils deep within the mine..

"I will do that.." she smiled at Rumil again, "Thank you, my friend."

"You are welcome, now Lady please, get yourself some sun!" he laughed jokingly as he took a couple of steps back, turned, and literally disappeared into the treeline.

Aadraen turned and walked to Tiathir, who was still mounted upon his horse.. "Come, there is a camp to the south we are welcome to set up in."

In one swift motion, she leapt up onto Ithil's back..

"Maethoril, Why do they not let us pass?" Tiathir said quizzically..

"It is their way, it is how the Lord and Lady have kept those who mean to harm them out of their wood. Now, as Rumil told me, the orcs are making preparations to come out of the north into Lorien." .. she sighed deeply at the thought of this, shaking her head..

"Then how do we meet with the Lord and Lady?" Tiathir whispered..

"You have to gain their trust, you have some, since you are here with me, however, if we were to help the elves camped along the Nimrodel prepare for coming war with the orcs, it will gain trust of you, and you may be permitted to enter the Golden Wood, with me."

"Fair enough," Tiathir said in an understanding tone, "Where to first then?"

There is a camp further south, Rumil said, that we would be able to set up a small camp, as well as help aid my kin in their preparations."

"Think we can get a bite to eat first and a nap? The mine has me exhausted."

Aadraen laughed, "Men, always needing their beauty sleep."

He rolled his eyes then said playfully, "And elves are insomniacs"

"Hey now, I just do not need as much sleep as you, however, I am feeling a bit tired after the long journey through the mine."

"Come then, let us go to the southern camp Rumil spoke about, perhaps I will sleep, for a little while at least." Aadraen grinned slightly as she turned Ithil in a southerly direction.

"Tiathir grinned, "Race you!", and started off ahead of her..

"Tiathir!", she sped off after him, "You don't know where you're going!"

..to be continued..

[Aadraen]

Aadraen laughed and shook her head and pushed her horse, Itihl, to quickly catch up with Tiathir. Managing to get alongside him she looked at him, and said over the wind blowing in her ears..

"You can't just take off riding like a madman here, you may get shot.. let me lead you, silly." she pulled forward chuckling to herself, leaving him with a rather dour look on his face.

Aadraen looked back and smiled slightly, "Don't fret, it won't be like this forever.. I promise." with that, he finally smiled at her and nodded a bit.

After riding for quite some time, they rose over a copse of trees, and across a few rocks sticking up over a shallow part of the Nimrodel. Just over the embankment she saw the camp. Pausing, she got off her horse, taking her by the reigns.

"Is this it?" Tiathir said as he got off his horse.

Aadraen nodded, as she looked out across the various tents and wagons, barrels, crates, and various supplies.

"Aye.. this is it, come, let us find the one Rumil said to look for, and remember, let me do the talking for now." She glanced back at him in an almost playful manner.

Tiathir let out a mock gasp, "I would NEVER say anything out of the way.."

She rolled her eyes and shook her head, "Just do it."

He laughed, always seeming to enjoy her getting flustered and laughing on occasion, though lately it seemed she was doing so more often, which caused him to wonder.

"Maethoril? Are you all right?", he asked in a worried, quiet, tone.

"I'm perfectly fine, why do you ask?

"You just seem like you're smiling more as of late..are you drinking and not telling me?", saying this with a wry grin.

Aadraen glared at him for a moment, "This better?"

Tiathir broke out into a loud laugh. "Much."

She muttered something and guided her horse to where it seemed the horses were, allowing her to get some much needed water. Turning to face the camp, she noticed a female elf standing near many crates of supplies. Thinking this could be the person with whom she needed to speak, she looked back at him.

"I think that is Saoliel, the one in charge of gathering supplies.. come, let us talk to her." she said quietly, a solemn aire coming back to her face at seeing her kin having to prepare for war, even in such a protected place as Lorien.

The pair approached the lady, Tiathir remained slightly behind Aadraen so that she could do the talking.

"Mae Govannen, would you be Saoliel?" she asked, with a slight bow of the waist.

The elf looked up at Aadraen, then to Tiathir, then back at Aadraen with a tired expression.

"Yes, I am, why are you here?" she said matter of factly.

"Rumil said that you needed help gathering supplies, and we would like to help you. Forgive me, I am Aadraen Tathariel of Rivendell, this is Tiathir of Gondor." with that, Tiathir bowed to her with respect.

"Well Aadraen of Rivendell, Rumil is right, we need every hand we can get. Though we do not let many in, there are too many spies as you can imagine, we cannot allow the orcs to know what our plans may be, so we are careful about who we let stay here in camp."

Eyeing the two carefully, she spoke up, "However, if you say that Rumil sent you, I've no doubt you mean any ill-will. You are welcome to stay so long as you help us get supplies. You may set up camp over there along the river where there is a space."

Aadraen smiled to her and bowed again, "Thank you, Lady, your kindness is appreciated. We will work hard to make sure you have the supplies you need. We've an abundance of rations as well, you are all most welcome to."

The elf nodded and smiled to them both, "Thank you for that, it will help a great deal."

"Go, you two seem like you could use a little rest, nightfall approaches and we must be careful since the orcs seem to enjoy poking about then."

Aadraen nodded, "We'll be awake before then.."

Tiathir widened his eyes at Aadraen, he knew elves needed little sleep, but for a moment he thought she was stark raving mad if she thought getting two hours sleep would help him. He started to say something, but paused, not wanting to offend the hospitality of the elven lady here.

"Let's go set up, Maethoril.." Tiathir picked up a couple of their packs..

Aadraen nodded, and handed the lady a pack of her own, "Here are the rations I mentioned, we'll just be off for a bit of rest. Call on us if you need us sooner."

Saoliel took the pack and nodded her thanks, before rushing off to help fletch some new arrows.

Tiathir watched Aadraen for a few moments, inwardly admiring how beautiful she looked even in such a disarray, as her raven hair flew across her face in the wind. Shaking himself from his reverie, he whispered, "Come, let us go set up, since I'll only be sleeping an hour for the next three days, I need to get to it." he grinned a little.

Aadraen turned and looked at him.. "I still cannot understand why you need so much sleep to function. I'll let you sleep an extra hour, how's that?" she smirked slightly..

Tiathir shook his head and laughed.. "Let's just go"

Aadraen picked up a large pack and slung it across her back with ease, then made her way to her horse.

Lovingly, she scratched the front of Ithil's nose whispering, "Hang on girl, I'll free you off all this weight.."

Tiathir approached his own horse, and the two started unloading them so that it may help them regain some energy. Then the two made their way over to the camp spot beside the river.

"Let's set the tent up here.." Tiathir said quietly..

Aadraen looked back and nodded her silent approval, as she started laying out a two sleeping packs, "We'll put these inside.. I'll sort the other things if you want to handle the tent."

He nodded and smiled a little, continuing to catch a glimpse from the corner of his eye on occasion, still amazed at how efficiently and quickly the elves did everything.

Aadraen gathered some driftwood and leaves for kindling, and laid them to the side. Almost as if she were quickly putting together a puzzle, she arranged several mid-sized white stones in a circle for a campfire. After placing the logs and kindling within the circle, she glanced over at Tiathir to make sure he wasn't looking, and took out a bit of the fire powder that her mother, a loremaster had taught her to use. Lightly she blew a few granules across the kindling, and the fire sparked into life.

"How did you do that so quickly!?" Tiathir exclaimed, a little startled by the sudden fire billowing upward.

Aadraen chuckled, "It is a secret, perhaps I'll share it with you someday."

He laughed again, watching her as she turned to look into the flame, marveling at just how amazing she was as the fire cast a warm glow upon her pallid face. Aadraen looked over at him, meeting his eyes for the longest time. Finally, she broke into an almost shy smile.

"Are you all right?", she asked Tiathir, the smile never leaving her face as she kept her eyes fixated upon his.

"I've never been better.", he continued to smile at her for another few moments, before turning his attention back to finishing up the tent set up.

She turned her face to look at the river, picking up two water jugs as she stopped at the edge. Placing the jugs on the water's edge, she took off her boots, and tossed them aside. Aadraen stepped just into the water, where it lapped against the shore, with a smile she reveled in just how refreshing it was. Taking up the water jugs, she filled them both to the brim.

"Tiathir, you should rest." she said quietly, as she sat herself on the bank, still dangling her feet in the water.

"Only if you do, for at least a while, I know you are not so accustomed to sleep, but I still worry."

Softly, she sighed.. and stood, turning towards him.. "Very well"

Smiling as if he had just won a war on his own, he carefully arranged her sleeping bag so that she may be comfortable.

"I hope this works for you.."

She smiled a little, "You did a good job on the tent, thank you."

Carefully, she slipped off her grey cloak and hung it up on one of the branches sticking out of the tent. She stretched her back a bit, then crawled into the sleeping pack, pulling the blankets over her.

Tiathir crawled in alongside her, curling up in his own pack, and turning to face away from her, just in case he snored too loudly.

"Rest well, Maethoril.." He said in a tender tone..

Aadraen smiled softly, since he knew he could not see it.. "You too.."